荀子“礼”之起源与本质的思想探析

Xun Zi's Theory on the Origin and the Essence of Etiquette

荀子以人性恶为基础 ,将“礼”之起源归结为“圣人”的“制欲止乱” ,虽仍有其逻辑缺憾 ,但较之其它关于社会规范的起源学说要深刻和高明得多。他关于礼之本质在于“分”的思想 ,不仅在理论层面 ,而且在实践层面上 。

Xun Zi,an ancient Chinese scholar who believes in the evil nature of human being,holds that etiquette comes into form as one of the Saint's ways to keeping the social order through curbing the desires.Despite its lack of logic,it is superior to other theories as to the origin of social conventions in his time.With regard to the understanding of the nature of etiqnete,he gives much highlight on his idea of 'differentiation',which is in favour of the confuscian political thinking theratically as well as practically.